Circuit-breaker



(No Model.)

May 19, 1896.

W B POTTER CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Paten I WITNESSES.

afiw' U ITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WILLIAM B. POTTER, 0E s I-IENECTADY, NEW YoRKjAssIGNoa TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, or NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,427, dated May 19, 1896.

Application filed January 18,1896. Serial No. 575,952. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented-certain new anduseful Improvements in Circuit-Breakers, (Case No. 321,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved circuit-breaker for drawbridges by means of which the circuit may be readily and automatically opened and closed between the trolley-wire extending lengthwise of the drawbridge and the main trolley-wire at the abutments of the bridge.

In carrying out this invention a circuitbreaking device is connected to each end of the trolley-wire extending lengthwise of the drawbridge, and when the drawbridge is closed the circuit-breaking device at each end of the trolley running lengthwise of the swing-bridge is in contact with a similar abutting circuit-breaking device connected with the main trolley-wire at each abutment of the bridge. The circuit-breaking device is so constructed as to form a good contact with a similar circuit-breaking device at one or both of the abutments, and when moved out ofor into contact therewith to readily yield. The circuit-breaker comprises in its general construction an inwardly-yielding contactplate hinged at the outer end of a metallic connecting-piece, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of one of the circuit-breakers constructed in accordance with this inven-' tion. Fig. 3 is a side view, in longitudinal section, of the circuit-breaker shown in Fig. 2.

The circuit-breaking device 1 may be constructed of a piece of metal of suitable shape such, for example, as shown in Fig. 2-formed by the enlarged triangular flanged portion 2, having the narrow rib 4, located at the top of the triangular portion 2, and provided with projections 5, having screw-threaded holes 6, by means of which the circuit-breaker may be secured by bolts or screws to the overhead structure carrying the trolley-wire. The ex- .ing on the rear of said contactfplates.

tension 3 is formed with a channel 7, terminatin g at its inner end in a recess formed by a rearwardly-projecting portion 8 of the rib 4, and adapted to hold the end of the trolley-wire therein by means of a set-screw 9, mounted in and projecting through the projection 8. At the forward end of the circuitbreaker is located a contact-plate 10, hinged to trunnions 11, projecting from the sides of the triangular portion 2. The normal position of the contact-plate 10 is shown in Fig. 2, its forward movement being limited by lateral projections 12 adjacent to its hinged portion, which abut against stops 13 on the forward part of the portion 2 of the circuitbreaker. The contact-plate 10 is held in this normal position by the pressure of springarms 14, mounted on the piece 2 and bearing against the rear of the contact-plate 10,which also permit the contact-plate 10 to yield rearwardly when moving into or out of contact with the adjacent contact-plate mounted on the abutment of the bridge.

In Fig. 1 is shown a swinging bridge 15, having extending lengthwise thereon a trolleywire 16. Connected at each end of said wire 16 is the circuit-breaker 1. A circuit-breaker 17, similar in construction to the circuitbreaker 1, is located at each abutment of the bridge, and is connected with the end of the main trolley-wire 18, terminating at the abutment. By means of this construction it will be seen that when the bridge is closed the circuit is closed between the trolley-wire 16, extending lengthwise of the bridge, and the main trolley-wire 18 by means of the yielding contact-plates of the circuit-breakers, the abutting contact-plates 1 and 17 bearing closely together through the force of the springs act- The outer or front face of the contact -plates is formed somewhat curved, as shown, so that when the bridge swings away from or into position with the abutments the abutting contact-plates may readily clear each other or move into abutting position.

Provision is made to preserve the continuity of the main trolley-circuit when the bridge is open, as follows: A through-feeder19,extending, preferably, under water, connects with the main trolley-wire 18, so as to form an un broken circuit, as shown in Fig. 1. ,20 indicates a ground-wire ext-ending, preferably, under water from the bridge to a generator at any suitable point connected with the main trolley-wire 18.

It will thus be seen that by means of this construction when the bridge is open the main trolley circuit remains unbroken, and that when the bridge is closed the circuit across the bridge is completed by the contact-plates held in close connection with each other.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A circuit-breaker for drawbridges, consisting of a horizontal base-plate, a contactplate hinged at its forward end and adapted to yield rearwardly in a vertical plane, the outer face of the contact-plate being curved from end to end horizontally, and a spring holding the contact-plate in its forward position.

2. A circuit-breakcr for drawbridges, consisting of a horizontal base-plate having a rearward extension, with means for detachably securing the trolley-wire thereto, a contact-plate hinged at its forward end and movable rearwardly in a vertical plane, and a spring connection permitting the contactplate to yield rearwardly.

3. The combination with a d rawbrid ge havin g a trolley-wire extending lengthwise thereof, and a horizontal base-plate at each end of said trolley-wire havinghinged thereto a contact-plate movable in a vertical plane, and a spring bearing against the rear side of said contact-plate, of a similar contact-plate at each abutment of the bridge abutting against the adjacent contact-plate on the bridge and connected to one end of the wire in atrolleycircuit.

4. The combination with a drawbridge havin g a trolley-wire extending lengthwise thereof, and a circuit-breaker at each end of said trolley-wire consisting of a horizontal baseplate having hinged at one end thereof a contact-plate movable in a vertical plane, and a controlling-spring in the rear of said contact plate, of a similar circuitbreaker at each abutment of the bridge abutting against the adjacent contact-plate on the bridge and connected to one end of the wire in a trolley-circuit, said trolleycircuit being unbroken when the bridge is open.

In witness whereof I have hereunio set my hand this 17th day of January, 1896.

\VILLIAM l3. POTTER. Witnesses:

B. B. HULL, A. F. MACDONALD. 

